Yosef Blau

Yosef Blau is an American-Israeli Orthodox rabbi. He was the mashgiach ruchani at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary from 1977 to 2025. He is also the former president of the Religious Zionists of America.

Education Blau earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1959 from Yeshiva College

Controversies In August 2025, Blau was the lead signer in a letter by orthodox rabbis regarding the Gaza Humanitarian Crisis. Many leading orthodox writers and rabbis criticized Blau's letter, with one calling it "shameful" and another "reckless", and questioning his ability to judge the all the details such a letter would be based on. Many others praised his moral strength and the sensitivity of the statement he wrote, signed by more than 80 rabbis.

Personal Rabbi Blau married Rivkah Teitz, daughter of Rabbi Mordechai Pinchas Teitz, in June 1962. Until moving to Israel in March 2025, they lived in Washington Heights. They have three sons: Binyamin, Yitzchak and Yaakov.